Lord Shenxiu
Chapter 172 Earth Tyrant Blade (Congratulations to Alliance Hierarch utomarket!)

Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Earth Tyrant Blade (Congratulations to Alliance Hierarch utomarket!)

As a wealthy conglomerate in the Great Wu Dynasty, masquerading as a martial arts sect, the Six Void Sect had an extensive reach.

Even the renowned Four Seas Escort Agency in Changhe County was in fact partly owned by the Six Void Sect, which is why their disciples were lodging there.

"Brother Zhao... the carrier pigeon message from our sect has finally arrived."

At that moment, a disciple rushed in, his face bearing an indescribable complexity of emotions, "Since Qian Wuji died in a fair fight, the grandmaster of our sect won’t take action, instructing us outer disciples to avenge Brother Qian! Whoever succeeds will be appointed the new chief disciple!"

"Just as expected..."

Brother Zhao opened his folding fan. Although the weather was not hot at all, how could he look elegant and poised without fanning himself?

"That Five Elements Palm is the eighth-ranked on the Human Ranking, are we going up there to get killed? In my opinion, our sect shouldn’t fear any criticism from the Jianghu Martial Arts, we should straight send an elder hall expert to wipe out Xun Liu Yi, and his entire clan. After all, he doesn’t have the backing of experts from the Heaven or Earth rankings..."

A hot-tempered disciple exclaimed.

"Eh... If the masters have given such orders, they surely have their reasons. Besides... for Xun Liu Yi, a mere warrior from a fallen sect, to soar to such heights, can you really believe there’s no hidden master behind him? Don’t tell me you believe those nonsense stories about the Wang Family’s Secret Manual - only fools would believe that!"

Brother Zhao chuckled again: "Moreover... they said to avenge, not to engage in a fair fight. We can gang up, use poison or traps, or seek outside help. In the end, whoever takes Xun Liu Yi’s life will earn the favor of our sect elders."

"Poison and traps might tarnish our reputation, though? Since we cannot afford a grandmaster, it seems we must find another way from those on the Human Ranking..."

A Six Void Sect disciple clapped his hands: "I think we should simply hire Hidden Dragon Li Qinghe, that gives us the greatest chance!"

"Hidden Dragon has always been arrogant. Attempting to bribe him with money is an insult," retorted the irascible disciple with a shake of his head.

"I don’t buy it. Li Qinghe might be lofty, but he still has family, he has a sect... With our financial resources, getting him to make a move isn’t difficult!"

The disciple who first suggested the idea laughed: "I’m taking this approach; no one else is allowed to steal it."

"Hmm, that could work."

Brother Zhao slowly closed his fan: "But to kill a chicken you don’t need a bull’s knife. I think hiring Earth Tyrant Blade would suffice..."

"Earth Tyrant Blade? That man is only thirteenth on the Human Ranking..."

Several disciples hesitated: "Are you sure he can beat the Five Elements Palm?"

"You always think rankings are everything, but you don’t realize that martial arts have their counters. Earth Tyrant Blade’s specialty, the ’Reversed Five Elements Blade Technique,’ is perfectly designed to counter five elements-based cultivation techniques. Using him against Xun Liu Yi might work even better than Hidden Dragon."

Brother Zhao laughed heartily: "And the Earth Tyrant Blade is a dark path expert. Taking money for murder is his old trade. This path is mine to take; no stealing from me!"

...

In short, with the manipulation of some behind-the-scenes forces.

Changhe County did not become desolate but instead attracted more and more martial arts experts.

In the tavern.

Gu Qingying, wearing gloves, stared blankly at the table full of dishes.

With his keen hearing, he could catch distant sounds, like from a private room several zhang away where someone was speaking:

"Mr. Li, for a hundred thousand taels, take this job just once to kill the Five Elements Palm..."

"Xun Liu Yi?" He could be considered an acquaintance. During this time, Gu Qingying had learned that this acquaintance had rapidly climbed to the eighth rank on the Human Ranking, a position he himself had once coveted. He had a subtle feeling about it.

"I, Li Qinghe, have always acted righteously and sat upright. I only challenge masters that I want to challenge. Take your silver note back!"

The voice of another young man arose, just hearing it let one envision a figure standing tall like a javelin.

"As expected from the top of the Human Ranking, can Xun Liuyi perhaps escape from this predicament?"

Gu Qingying drank a cup of wine and pondered in silence.

At that moment, a voice came from outside the tavern, its source unknown: "Hurry, come see! Earth Tyrant Blade is challenging Five Elements Palm!"

"What, Earth Tyrant Blade?"

Gu Qingying, who was knowledgeable, immediately understood: "This person’s Counter Five Elements Blade Technique, specifically designed to break the Five Elements, and yet Xun Liuyi started his fame with the Five Elements Thief Palm, this is going to be troublesome..."

Disguised as a Jianghu Wanderer, he could not possibly ignore a duel between experts from the Human Ranking—it did not fit his persona.

Moreover, he was genuinely curious and followed the crowd to a square.

It was a spacious crossroads with a fighting stage set up in the middle.

A man in black who wielded a saber gleaming with a cold light, stood silently.

Opposite him was Five Elements Palm, the eighth-ranked Xun Liuyi in the Human Ranking.

"This duel will decide both victory and death!"

Earth Tyrant Blade slowly spoke, causing the eyes of the surrounding martial artists to light up.

Zhong Shenxiu stood deep and unshakable like a mountain, the epitome of a master, and nodded lightly, "Agreed!"

"Good, my Earth Tyrant Blade, four feet three inches seven points long, weighing thirty-six pounds and eight ounces, can slice through iron like mud... You should be careful, draw your weapon!"

Earth Tyrant Blade slammed his saber down, and the blade instantaneously emitted a bloodthirsty roar.

’This Earth Tyrant Blade really is the scum of the underworld, utterly shameless... Asking Five Elements Palm to use a weapon is akin to handicapping himself. Why don’t you discard your saber then?’

Gu Qingying inwardly scoffed.

Just then, they heard Zhong Shenxiu chuckle: "I don’t need a weapon, let us begin."

"Alright! My blade technique is designed to counter the Five Elements, be cautious."

Earth Tyrant Blade, with fire in his heart, not only yearned for the rich reward but was also beckoned by the honor of being eighth in the Human Ranking.

He suddenly let out a howl, the saber light flashed, and without any courtesies, he employed the Counter Five Elements Blade Technique.

Announcing his moves at the start of a duel was not about fairness but to unsettle his opponent.

The blade technique was specifically designed to counter the Five Elements, and its incredible power made even Gu Qingying who was watching break out in a cold sweat.

Although he had made it onto the Human Ranking with his Lonely Goose Saber, he admitted that compared to Earth Tyrant Blade at this moment, he was no match.

At this point, his gaze towards Xun Liuyi carried a hint of worry.

"Counter Five Elements Blade Technique, a counter to the Five Elements?"

Zhong Shenxiu could not help but laugh: "Five Elements? I have long since moved beyond that..."

He raised both hands, and a terrifying force overflowed from them; one hand black, the other white, suddenly swirling together to form a gigantic vortex.

Even if the Liangyi Huaji Hand was tricky, it was still a grandmaster-level martial arts technique when used, its might astonishing!

As Earth Tyrant Blade’s saber tip entered the vortex, he felt as if he had encountered a huge grinding stone, constantly wearing down his inner strength, and he was shocked: "This is not the Five Elements Thief Palm!"

"Of course it’s not, your time has come to die."

Zhong Shenxiu reversed his hands and the Hundred-refined Treasure Saber actually snapped in half, Earth Tyrant Blade unable to dodge in time, was struck in the chest by a palm and sent flying out of the ring, blood spurting from his mouth and nose, obviously no longer alive.